Take a step to dub - Hi Nuno, once again welcome to Take a step to Dub, how is 2019 shaping up for you?
Buster - Hi, thank you for having me again on Take a Step to Dub, always a pleasure to contribute.
So far, so good. I’m quite happy with the way that the projects I’m part of, such as my show on SubFm, Basspaths or the event that I host together with Stereopathy, 48.1Hz are getting more and more recognition and positive feedback. Apart from that I had already some good gigs and I’ve some on the pipeline, like going back to the Afterhills Festival in Romania to play on the SubFm stage and later in the year, there’s the plan to do a couple of gigs in Portugal
TSD - It’s been almost ten years since you sign a TSDcast for the first time back in 2009. How has life changed for you since then?
B - Really? Almost 10 years? Time flies!
Well, things changed a lot in since then in many different aspects. Personally, professionally and in what I do regarding music and Dj’ing. I think all those changes, either good or bad, contributed to the way I am nowadays and my approach to certain things.
TSD - We always wonder what’s the story behind the name "Buster", if any?
B - That’s a good one!
Basically the name ‘Buster’ comes from Buster Keaton, an American actor and comedian from the 1920’s wich I’m a big fan.He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression which earned him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".
TSD - 2019 mark your 20 year career as a DJ. Taking a step back in time, could you tell us a little bit about your musical journey, from discovering underground music, to learning how to Dj?
B - My first contact with underground electronic music was while I was still living in Lisbon back in 95. I was part of this collective that was organising some gigs with underground bands and we’re approached by a English collective [ Total Resistance ] and we helped them setting up a rave in a warehouse with their own Sound System.
Then I moved to Berlin and got in contact with Digi-Dub and early Jungle through a night called ‘Dub Club’. When I moved to London, I start living in Brixton and I came across a Jungle and Drum and Bass Sound System and started going to their events.
Around 2005 a friend of mine showed me some Dubstep and I got into it, specially because of the Dub elements on it.
Regarding Dj’ing, I started messing around with turntables in 99 when a good friend of mine bought pair of 1210’s. The same friend was into Jungle and Drum’n’Bass and kindly taught me the basics of mixing and let me, use his decks and records to practice. From then on it’s been non stop.
And I’m happy to say that those 1210’s are the ones that I still use today.
TSD - How do you feel UK club music culture today differs from when you were coming up in the ’00s?
B - Uk club music it’s still a massive thing, quite diverse and with many quality events happening from all genres. Of course it changed from 00’s, like many other things also in the music scene/industry and society itself changed from the ate 90’s to nowadays. Some positive changes, some negative changes.
However it’s sad to see so many venues being closed down in recent times and so many restrictions regarding sound.
TSD - Being you a true basshead what are your view on the current state of Dubstep and the Bass Music in general?
B - I think Bass music in general is thriving. Dubstep it’s growing again in a positive way, I think more and more it returned to original essence of what it was before the period when it was expropriated by EDM music. But when I say original essence, I’m not just talking about the music in general but more about the scene and who’s part of it. Music wise it’s healthier than ever with producers taking new approaches to it and new sub-genres slowly immersing.
Also more and more you see a crossover of Dj’s from other genres within the Bass music, doing 140 sets and producing tunes and the other way around also.
TSD - How do you feel about social media in all of its influence on the music game now?
B - To keep it simple, has some positive sides and some negative sides.
TSD - Talking about the music game, who would you be recommending in terms of artists or labels, who are you vibing with right now?
B - There’s loads of good artists and labels out there on the moment.
Personally on the moment I’m checking artists such as; Pugilist, Mystic Music, Duckem, Kwizma, Max Mischief, Section 8, 207, Another Channel, Babe Roots, just to name a thew. About labels I would mention, Navy Cut, Modern Hypnosis, Sub:pressure, Sentry, Innamind Recordings, Dubtribu Records.
Plus more and more I’m also looking a lot into what’s going on with the 170 half tempo and grey area. There I’m would say artists like; Shiken Hanzo, Pessimist, The Untouchables, Deadmaul, Kit Curse and on the label side of things, Samurai Music, Ronin Ordinance, Conspired Within, OnSet Audio, Droogs, Mask Music.
TSD - We are quite excited about the mix you put together for us. Tell us a little bit about the selection process, down to the final recording?
B - I think the selection for this mix reflects a lot the sounds that I always enjoyed more in Dubstep when we talk about the deep and tech side of it. From that I went and picked up tunes, some old, some new that could represent that sound, going from Kryptic Minds, D Operation Drop, Goth Trad, Kwizma, Kial and more.
TSD - Before we finish... in 20 years there any question that was never been done to you that you would like to answer?
B - Never been done? Actually yes, the 3rd one here and now you got the answer.
TSD - Thank you for your time brother, all the best for the future. Are there any final comments / shoutouts you wanna share to wrap things up?
B - Thank, much respect to TSTD and for what you’ve doing also.
Big ups to everyone supporting the scene, to all listening to the Basspaths show and to all artists and labels sending music and mixes.
Hope you guys enjoy the mix.
Peace, Love and Unity!
